Shirt press

ABSTRACT

A machine for pressing and finishing an entire shirt including the front, remainder of the body, sleeves, cuffs and collar. The machine includes a vertical, heated, shift front pressplate and a buck adapted to have the body of a shirt dressed thereon with the front of the shirt engaging a surface of the buck. An inflatable bag is attached to the buck, the bag being adapted to have the portion of the shirt body which is not in engagement with the buck surface dressed thereon. The buck is movable between a horizontal dressing position, and a vertical pressing position with the shirt front in pressing engagement between the pressplate and the buck surface. A blower forces air into the bag when the buck is in the pressing position thereby to inflate the bag and the body portion thereon to dry the same. A pair of cuff pressing assemblies each including a buck and heated pressplate are provided on opposite sides of the shirt front pressplate. A collar pressing assembly including a heated press plate and buck are provided beneath the body buck. The shirt body is dressed on the body buck and bag in its dressing position, the body buck and bag with the shirt body thereon being then raised to the vertical, pressing position. The cuffs are then respectively arranged on the cuff pressing assemblies and the pressing and air-blowing operation is then commenced. Meanwhile, the collar of another shirt is being pressed on the collar pressing assembly.

United States Patent Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin AssistantExaminer-George V. Larkin AttorneyHood, Gust, Irish & Lundy 1 1 0 6 4 dn I m m e d n A d a mm s d D m www m H23 0 r m N n l v w .m A l 2 l 7 2..t l

[22] Filed May 5,1970 [45] Patented Oct.'l9, 1971 pressplate and a buckadapted to have the body of a shirt dressed thereon with the front ofthe shirt engaging a surface of the buck. An inflatable bag is attachedto the buck, the bag being adapted to have the portion of the shirt bodywhich is t not in engagement with the buck surface dressed thereon. The

[541- SHIRT PRESS buck is movable between a horizontal dressingposition, and a s Edy .w m w b u s b m ev e [me e PPh a H g a n .m w b Pvertical pressing position with the shirt front in pressing en gagementbetween the pressplate and the buck surface. A blower forces air intothe bag when the buck is in the pressing position thereby to inflate thebag and the body portion thereon to dry the same. A pair of cu eachincluding a buck and heated pressplate are provided on opposite sides ofthe shirt front pressplate.

assembly including a heated press plate and beneath the body buck. Theshirt body is dressed on t 7 0 0 5MO%6 N N 3 2 7 2 16 "6 4 M A 2 mmmm s..l. mm7 m T "Hf 0 N W I N mm m P s mm m CS .m mm m mm m m A .m mm w mmW a m mm m 7 m H 2 "u r N s m U .m m U W 0 St 6 1 n 3| 4U. F 1] l l 2 06 55 5 5 [.l.

buck and bag in its dressing position, the body buck and bag with theshirt body thereon being then raised to the vertical, pressing position.The cuffs are then respective the cuff pressing assemblies and thepressing a ly arranged on nd air-blowing operation is then commenced.Meanwhile, the collar of another shirt is being pressed on the collarpressing assembly.

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BY M,W Quin SHIRT PRESS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention This invention relates generally to the shirt pressingapparatus, and more particularly to a shirt pressing machine whichpresses and finishes an entire shirt.

2. Description of the Prior Art Two types of conventional shirt pressingapparatus have heretofore been employed. In the so called double buckmachine, a pair of body bucks are provided adapted to have a shirt bodydressed thereon, these body bucks being alternately moved between adressing position and a pressing position between a pair of heatedpressing heads which press the front and back of the shirt body. In thesingle buck" machine, a single body buck is provided'adapted to have ashirt body dressed thereon and which is movable between a dressingposition and a pressing position between a pair of heated pressingheads. Air finishers including an inflatable bag adapted to have a shirtbody dressed thereon have also been employed, however satisfactoryfinishing of the shirt, particularly the front, has not been providedwith most shirts.

Conventional shirt pressing apparatus presses or finishes only the bodyof the shirt, and it has thus been necessary to employ separate sleevepresses or sleevers for finishing the sleeves, and separate collar andcuff presses. Thus, heretofore the finishing of a complete shirt hasconventionally required four separate operations on three or fourseparate machines, i.e. finishing the body on a body press, the sleeveson a sleeve press, the cuffs on a cuff press, and the collar on a collarpress, or thecollar and cuffs on a collar-cuff press.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, there isprovided a shirt press in which the shirt front is pressed between abuck and heated pressing plate while the remainder of the body of theshirt is finished on an air bag attached to the buck. The sleeves aresimultaneously air-finished with the cuffs being simultaneously pressed.A collar pressing assembly forms a part of the machine and its operationis integrated therewith so that the collar of one shirt can be pressedwhile the body, sleeves and cuffs of another shirt are being pressed andfinished.

In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention, a shirt pressis provided having a generally vertically disposed, heated shirt frontpressplate, and a body buck adapted to have the body of a shirt dressedthereon with the front of a shirt body engaging a surface of the buck.Means are provided for moving the buck between a generally horizontallydisposed dressing position and agenerally vertically disposed pressingposition with the shirt front in pressing engagement between thepressing plate and the buck surface.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, means are provided forforcing air into the portion of the shirt which is not in engagementwith the buck surface thereby to inflate and dry thatportion. Further, apair of cuff pressing assemblies is provided respectively spaced fromopposite sides of the shirt front pressplate, each of these assembliescomprising a mating cuff buck and a heated cuff pressplate with meansfor relatively moving the cuff buck and the cuff pressplate between anopen position and apressing position. Still further, a collar pressingassembly is provided comprising a collar buck and a mating heated collarpressplate, with means for relatively moving the collar buck between anopen position and a pressing position.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide animproved shirt press.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved shirt presswherein the front of the shirt is pressed between a heated pressplateand a buck and the remainder of the body of the shirt is air-finished.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved shirt pressincorporating apparatus for pressing and finishing the entire shirtincluding the front, the body, the sleeves, cuffs and collar.

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention andthe manner of attainingthem will become more apparent and the inventionitself will be best understood by reference to the following descriptionof an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONOF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of theshirt press of the invention showing the body buck in its dressingposition;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view ofashirt press with alongsleeved shirtthereon in its pressingposition;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the shirt press of the invention showing thebody and collar bucks in their pressing positions;

FIG. 4 is a rearview of the shirt press of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 5-5 ofFIG. 3, but showing the body buck in its dressing position;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 6-6 ofFIG. 3, showing the body buck in its pressing position and the collarbuck in its open position;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along theline 7-7 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along theline 8-8 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 9-9 ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary top cross-sectional view taken generally alongthe line 10-10 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along theline 1 l-ll of FIG. 3;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary side cross-sectional view taken generally alongthe line 12-12 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 13 is an end view of one of the cuffpressing assemblies of theshirt press of the invention taken generally along the line 13-13 ofFIG. 3 and showing the cuff buck and pressplate in their open positions;

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13 but showing the cuff buck andpressplate in their pressing positions;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary view taken generally along the line 15-15 ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary top view of one of the cuff bucks takengenerally along the line 16-16 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary view taken generally along the line 17-17ofFIG. 10;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary front view of the body buck with bag removed;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary front view of the body buck taken generallyalong the line 19-19 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a top view of the body buck with inactive bag removed;

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along theline 21-21 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along theline 22-22 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 23 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along theline 23-23 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 24 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along theline 24-24 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 25 is a fragmentary view showing the short sleeve expanders intheir extended positions;

FIG. 26 is a fragmentary view showing the short sleeve expanders intheir retracted position; and

FIG. 27 is a schematic illustration showing the pneumatic control systememployed in the shirt press ofthe invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1 through9 of the drawings, the shirt press of the invention, generally indicatedat 30 includes a frame 32, heated pressplate assembly 34, body buckassembly 36, blower 38, left and right cuff press assemblies 40, 42, andcollar press assembly 44. Referring. specifically to FIGS. 3 and 7,while the body buck assembly 36 and collar pressing assembly 44 aretherein shown in their respective pressing positions, it is tounderstood that with the control system employed, as shown in FIG. 27,the collar pressing assembly 44 will be in its open position when thebody buck assembly 36 is in its pressing position, as shown in FIG. 6,and the collar pressing assembly 44 will be in its closed positionand/or its pressing position when the body buck assembly 36 is in itsdressing position, as shown in FIG. 5.

Frame 32 includes a base 46 comprising side rails 48, 50, end rails 52,54 and intermediate, longitudinally extending rail 56, and, paralleltransverse rails 58, 60.

An A-frame 62 is formed of frame members 64, 66 having their lower endssecured to and extending upwardly from transverse rail 60 and beingjoined at their upper ends, as shown in FIG. 5. A-frame 68 is formed offrame members 70, 72 having their lower ends secured to and extendingupwardly from transverse rail 58 and being joined at their upper ends,as shown in FIG. 9. Transverse frame members 74, 76 extend between framemembers 66, 72 thereby to maintain the A- frames 62, 68 inspaced-parallel relationship. A pair of cantilevered frame members 78,80 are respectively secured to the upper ends of frame members 64, 70extending forwardly and upwardly therefrom, being spaced apart bytransversed frame member 82.

Pressplate assembly 34 comprises a pair of spaced-parallel supportmembers 84, 86 pivotally suspended from members 78, 80, as in 88, 90. Asteam chest 92 is mounted on support members 84, 86, and is adapted tohave steam supplied thereto by suitable inlet and exhaust conduits 94,96 (FIG. 6). A cylinder smooth pressplate 98 is mounted on steam chest92 and is heated thereby. Thus, heated pressplate 98 is suspended frommembers 78, 80 for pivotal movement, as shown by the arrow 100 in FIG.6.

A pair of spaced-parallel bearing brackets 102, 104 are secured to andextend outwardly and upwardly from frame members 64, 70. Referringadditionally to FIGS. 18, 19 and 20, body buck assembly 36 comprises aflat plate 106 mounted on spaced-parallel members 108, 110. A third,shorter member 112 (FIG. 18) is also mounted on plate 106 intermediatemembers 108, 110 in spaced-parallel relationship therewith. Anglebrackets 114, 116, 118 respectively extend outwardly from the inner endsof members 108, 110 and 112. Members 114, 116, 118 are mounted onhearing shaft 120 which is pivotally mounted on the outer ends ofmembers 102, 104. It will thus be seen that body buck assembly 36 ismounted for pivotal movement, as shown by the arrow 122 (FIG. between agenerally horizontal, dressing position, as shown in FIG. 5, and agenerally vertical pressing position in engagement with pressing plate98, as shown in FIGS. 3, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

Body buck assembly 36 is moved between its dressing and pressingpositions by a suitable pneumatic cylinder G having its end 124pivotally secured to brace 126 extending between frame members 66, 64,and its piston rod 128 pivotally connected to lever member 130 securedto shaft 120. A comparison of FIGS. 5 and 6 will reveal that extensionof piston rod 128 of cylinder G will pivotally move body buck assembly36 from its horizontal, dressing position, as shown in FIG. 5, to itsvertical pressing position, as shown in FIG. 6, and that retraction ofthe piston rod 128 will pivotally move body buck assembly 36 from itspressing position back to its dressing position.

Body buck assembly 36 is returned from its pressing position to itsdressing position and piston rod 128 of cylinder G is retracted by asuitable spring 130 having one end connected to member 132 secured tobase rail 58 and its other end pivotally connected to lever member 134connected to the shaft 120 (FIG. 8). A snubber 136 is provided havingits actuating lever 138 connected to one end of link 140 which has itsother end pivotally connected to lever member 142 also secured to shaft120, snubber 136 cushioning the springbiased return of body buckassembly 36 to its pressing position.

The upper surface valve plate 106 has conventional padding 144 thereon.A neck form 146 is mounted on the upper surface of plate 106 adjacentits outer end 148, pressplate 98 having a cutout portion 150 at itsupper end for accommodating neck form 146 (FIG. 4 and 6). Neck form 146has an upwardly facing slot 152 formed therein with a bar 154 extendingthereacross (FIGS. 19, 20). A latching lever member 156 is providedpivotally mounted on lever member 158 which, in turn, is pivotallymounted on shaft 160 extending between frame members 64, 70 (FIG. 4, 5,6). Latching member 156 has a hook portion 162 formed at its outer endwhich extends outwardly through cutout portion 150 in pressplate 98. Apneumatic cylinder E is provided mounted on bracket 164 secured to framemember 82, and having its piston rod 166 pivotally connected to latchingmember 156. The piston (not shown) of cylinder E is normally biasedupwardly by an internal spring 168, thereby pivoting latching member 156upwardly to its latching position. Application of air to cylinder Eextends its piston rod 166 thereby to pivot latching member 156downwardly so that hook portion 162 will enter slot 152 in neck form 146when body buck assembly 36 is pivoted upwardly to its pressing position.Upon release of the air pressure applied to cylinder E, spring 168 willbias piston rod 166 and lever member 156 upwardly so that hook portion162 engages rod 154, thereby to latch body buck assembly 36 in thepressing position.

Lever member 170 is pivotally mounted on shaft 172 extending betweenframe members 64, 70. Lever member 170 has a cam surface 174 formed onone end thereof. A pneumatic cylinder F is connected to end 176 of levermember 170 and has its piston rod 178 pivotally connected to end 180 oflever member 158. Spring 182 interconnects end 176 of lever member 170and end 180 of lever member 158, and serves normally to retract pistonrod 178 of cylinder F (FIG. 4). With piston rod 178 of cylinder Fretracted, cam surface 174 of lever member 170 is disposed out ofengagement with the rear surface 182 of steam chest 92, and latchingmember 156 is moved forwardly, as shown in FIG. 5. Inspection of FIG. 6will reveal that upon extension of piston rod 178 of cylinder F, levermember 170 is pivoted downwardly thereby causing cam surface 174 toengage the rear surface 182 of steam chest 92, thereby pivotally movingthe lower end ofpressplate assembly 34 as shown by the arrow 100, sothat the lower end of pressplate 98 is pressed into close pressingengagement with the pressing surface of body buck 36. Extension ofpiston rod 178 also pivots lever member 158 upwardly thereby retractinglatching member 156 so as to pull the upper end of body buck assembly 36toward pressplate 98, thereby pulling the pressing surface of body buckassembly 36 into close pressing engagement with pressplate 98.

A conventional steam radiator 184 is mounted on base 46 with inlet 186of blower 38 communicating therewith, radiator 184 thus heating the airsupplied by the blower. Blower 38 is driven by a conventional motor 188and is supported by brackets 190, 192 mounted on frame members 66,72.

Plate 106 of body buck assembly has an extension portion 194 formed atits inner or lower end (FIG. 18, I9, 20). A relatively short bottomplate 196 is secured to the bottom edges of members 108, 110 and has aportion 198 extending in spacedparallel relationship with top plateportion 194. Plate 196 has an outwardly inclined extension portion 200(FIG. 19, 20). Members 108, 110 have extension portions 202, 204 whichextend between extension portion 194 to top plate 106 and portion 198 ofplate 196. Extension portions 202, 204 have outwardly inclined flangedportions 206, 208 extending therefrom joined to inclined portion 200 ofplate 196. Extension portion 194 of top plate 106, plate 196, andmembers 108, 110 together with their extension portions 202, 204 defineduct 210 for admitting air to the interior of bag 212.

Members 214, 216 extend outwardly from members 108, 110 adjacent thejunction of plate member 106 and its extension portion 194. Inflatablebag 212 is removably assembled on the body buck structure engagingtheouter surface of padding 144 and enclosing members 108, 110 and theupper portion of plate member 196, the open end of bag 212 beingattached to and being partially closed by members 214, 216 so that duct210 communicates with the interior of the bag. Bag 212 also encloses theclamp, side expander and short sleeved expander mechanisms to behereinafter described in connection with FIGS. 18-26. Bag 212 hasopenings 218, 220 in its opposite sides adjacent its upper end forpennitting the flow of air into the sleeves of the shirt dressedthereon, short sleeved expanders 222, 224, when extended, extendingoutwardly through openings 218, 220 (FIG. 25).

Blower 38 has a conventional impeller 226 rotatably mounted in itscasing 228, impeller 226 being driven by motor 188. Inlet opening 186communicateswith casing 228 and impeller 226, and casing 228 has anexhaust duct 230 communicating therewith. Operation of motor 188 andimpeller 226 draws air through radiator 184 and inlet opening 186 andexhausts air through exhaust duct 230, as shown by the arrow 232 (FIG.7). Reference to FIG. 5 will reveal that when body buck assembly 36 isin its horizontal, dressing position, duct 210 is spaced from blowerduct 232, both ducts thus being opened. As shown in FIG. 7, when bodybuck assembly 36 is pivoted upwardly to its pressing position, blowerduct 230 enters the open end of duct 210, being guided by the inclinedflanged portions 200, 206, 208 (FIGS. 18, 19, 20) so that heated air isforced by blower 38 through duct 210 into the interior of bag 212, asshown by the arrows 232, so as to inflate the bag and the body portionof the shirt thereon, thereby to air dry the portions of the body of theshirt other than the front which is pressed between padding 144 (coveredby bag 212) and heated pressplate 98. If desired, steam may be injectedinto bag 212 to moisten the portion of the shirt body dressed thereon bymeans of a conduit 234 (FIG. 5) communicating with duct 210.

As will hereinafter be described in connection with FIG. 27, cylinder Gis actuated to raise and lower body buck assembly 36 and pneumaticcylinder H is actuated to open and close collar pressing assembly 44 byguardrail 236. Guardrail 236 is generally U-shaped and generallysurrounds body buck assembly 36. The lower ends 238, 240 of guardrail236 are attached to shaft 242 pivotally supported by members 244, 246respectively attached to members 114, 116 at points spaced from shaft120. Thus, guardrail 236, which functions as an actuating lever member,is raised and lowered with body buck assembly 36, and is also mountedfor pivotal movement with respect thereto between its deactuatedcondition, shown in solid lines in FIG. 5 and in dashed lines in FIG. 9,in its actuated position as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 5 and in solidlines of FIG. 9.

Lever member 248 is attached to shaft 242 with its end 250 close to theaxis of shaft 120 (FIG. 9). Link 252 connects end 250 of lever member248 to the upper end of U-shaped valve actuating lever member 254pivotally mounted on frame member 70, as at 256. Lever member 254actuates valves V3, V4 and V5, the function of which will be describedin connection with FIG. 27. Actuating lever member 254 is retained inone or the other of its two positions, i.e. actuated with guardrail 236in the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 9, and deactuated when inthe position shown in dashed lines, by an overcenter mechanismcomprising a roller 258 mounted on lever member 254, a lever member 260pivotally mounted on frame member 270, and a spring 262 connecting thefree end of lever member 260 to frame member 70, as shown in FIG. 9.

A valve actuating member 264 mounted on member 214 actuates valves V6and V7 mounted on frame member 64 (FIGS. 18, I9, 20) when body buckassembly 36 is in its vertical, pressing position. The function ofvalves V6 and V7 will be described in connection with FIG. 27.

Three tail clamps 266, 268, 270 are provided for clamping the tail ofthe shirt body against plate member 196 (with bag 212 interposedtherebetween). Each of the tail clamps 266, 268, 270 comprises aclamping member 272 pivotally mounted on the upper end of lever member274 (FIGS. 3, 6,

7, 9). Lever members 274 have their lower ends secured to sleeve 276pivotally mounted on shaft 242. Thus, tail clamps 266, 268, 270 willmove with body buck 36 between its dressing and pressing positions, andare also pivotally mounted with respect thereto for movement betweenreleased positions, as shown in FIG. 7, and clamping positions as shownin FIGS. 6 and 9. Tail clamps 266, 268, 270 are actuated between theirreleased and clamping positions by means of a lever member 278 securedto sleeve 276 and having a roller 280 at its outer end. Roller280engages an arcuate, camming lever member 282 which surroundsshaft 120and has one end pivotally mounted on frame member 284. The other end oflever member 282 is connected to the piston rod of the pneumaticcylinder I which is also connected to frame member 284. Spring 286biases tail clamps 266, 268, 270 to their released positions, andretracts the piston rod of cylinder I. While three tail clamps areshown, it will be understood that a lesser number, such as two or one,mayrbe'employed.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 18 through 26, right and left,upper, button and buttonhole strip clamps 290, 292 are providedextending through an opening 294 in pad 144 and bag 212. Right and left,lower, button and buttonhole strip clamps 296, 298 are providedextending through an opening 300 in pad 144 and bag 212. Clamps 290, 292are actuated between released clamping positions by pivoted levers 302,304, actuating links 306, 308 and levers 310, 312 respectively mountedon shaft 314, 316. Right and left actuating levers 318, 320 areconnected to shafts 314, 316 and are respectively actuated by pneumaticcylinders RA and LA. Right and left lower clamps 296, 298 are alsoactuated by cylinders RA and LA by lever members 322, 324 connected toshafts 314, 316.

Body side expanders 328 are disposed inside of the sides of bag 212 andare pivotally mounted on the outer ends 330, 332 of lever members 334,336 which extend outwardly through openings 338, 340 in members 108,110. The lower ends of lever members 336, 338 are pivotally mounted onbrackets 342, 344 and are actuated by pneumatic cylinders RC, LC. Shortsleeve expanders 222, 224 are mounted on lever members 346, 348 alsopivotally mounted on bracket members 342, 344 and actuated by pneumaticcylinders RB and LB. Springs 350 retract the piston rods of cylinders RAand LA.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 25 and 26, each of the short sleeveexpanders 222, 224 comprises a first elongated element 352 pivotallymounted on the upper end of the respective lever member 346, 348, and asecond elongated element 354 pivotally mounted on the first element 352.Elements 352, 354 are normally biased to their closed positions, asshown in FIG. 26, by spring 356. Expanders 222, 224 are urged to theirexpanded positions by rollers 358 mounted on bracket 360 secured to therespective member 108, 110, and respectively engaging the innerperipheral edges 362, 364 of elements 352, 354. Peripheral edges 362,364 are proportioned so that upon pivotal movement of lever members 346,348, as shown by arrows 366, 368, thereby to move expanders 222, 224from their retracted positions, as shown in FIG. 26, to their extendedpositions, as shown in FIG. 25, rollers 358 urge elements 352, 354 apartto the expanded positions. As shown in FIG. 26, short sleeve expanders222, 224, when in their retracted positions, are disposed substantiallywithin the outline of plate member 106 and in closely spaced, side byside relationship. In their extended positions, expanders 222, 224extend outwardly through openings 218; 220 in bag 212.

Still referring to FIGS. 18 through 24, right clamps 290, 296 areactuated by button 370, and left clamps 292, 298 are actuated by button372, buttons 370 and 372 being positioned adjacent neck form 146.Buttons 370, 372 are respectively connected to one end of pivoted levermembers 374, 376, which are respectively connected by links 378, 380 topivoted lever members 382 and 384. Lever members 382, 384 actuate valvesV1 and V2 mounted on the upper surface of extension portion 194 of topplate 106. Thus. depression of button 370 will actuate valve V1 toactuate cylinder'RA so as to actuate right clamps 290, 296 to theirclamping positions. Likewise,

depression of left actuating button 372 will actuate valve V2 to actuateleft clamps 292, 298 to their clamping positions. It will be understoodthat one of the buttons 370, 372 is actuated to clamp one of the strips,and then the other button is actuated to clamp the other strip.Actuation of both lever members 382, 384 actuates linkage 373, whichactuates valve V13 to actuate cylinders RC and LC, therebysimultaneously to extend right and left side expanders 326, 328.

Both valves V1 and V2 are simultaneously deactuated by kickoff cylinderD (FIG. 20) which acts on linkage 373 thereby simultaneously to releaseclamps 290, 292, 296 and 298, and to retract side expanders 326, 328.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 5-8, collar pressing assembly 44 comprisesheated collar pressplate 386 and movable collar buck 388, which is alsoheated, pressplate 386 and buck 388 having a complementary, matingconfiguration for pressing the collar of a shirt. The collar pressplate386 is supported by ends 389 of generally U-shaped bracket members 390,392, bracket members 390, 392 being supported by frame members 394, 396.

Collar buck 388 is guided and supported for generally vertical movementwith respect to collar pressplate 386 between a closed position, asshown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 7, and an open position, as shown in FIG. 6, bya pair of sleeves 398, 400 respectively secured to buck 388 andslidingly receiving guide rods 402. Guide rods 402 are mounted onbracket 404 secured to shaft 406 extending between rails 58, 60 andpivotally mounted thereon. Thus, collar buck 388 in its closed positionis pivotally movable between a pressing position in pressing engagementwith collar buck 386, and a released or intermediate position. Buck 388is raised and lowered between its closed and open positions by pneumaticcylinder l-I having one end pivotally connected to bracket 404 and itspiston rod pivotally connected to buck 388.

In order to move collar buck 388 between its released and pressingpositions, a lever member 408 is provided pivotally mounted on shaft 410extending between ends 412 of bracket members 390, 392. The inner end oflever 408 has roller 414 thereon and its outer end is pivotallyconnected to the piston rod of pneumatic cylinder K, which has its otherend pivotally connected to shaft 406. Spring 416 connects lever member408 and rail 56 and serves to retract the piston rod of cylinder K.Spring 418 connected between buck 388 and bracket 404 serves to retractthe piston rod of cylinder H. It will now be seen that when collar buck388 is in its retracted or closed position, extension of piston rod ofcylinder K will result in pivotal movement of lever 408 so that roller414 engages the outer surface 420 of collar buck 388 thereby pressingbuck 388 into pressing engagement with collar pressplate 386. Steam isintroduced into cavities in collar pressplate 386 and collar buck 388 bysuitable conduits 422, 424.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 3 and through 16, left and rightcuff press assemblies 40, 42 are identical and thus description of theleft assembly 40 will suffice. A generally vertically extending supportrod 426 has its lower end 428 secured to bracket member 430, whichextends outwardly from and is secured to rod 432. Rod 432 extendsbetween and is pivotally secured to rails 50, 56. Thus, support rod 426is mounted for pivotal movement about the axis of rod 432 in directionstoward and away from pressplate assembly 34, as shown by the arrows 434.A brace 436 extends between the upper end 438 of rod 426 and the pivotrod 432.

An elongated support rod 440 is provided having its lower ends 441secured to bracket 442 which is pivotally mounted on bracket 430, as in434. Bracket 446 is secured to the upper end 438 of rod 426, and bracket448 is secured to and extends outwardly from rod 440, bracket 448 beingpivotally mounted on bracket 446, as at 450. Thus, rod 440 is mounted onrod 426 for pivotal movement as shown by the arrow 452.

Cuff buck 454 is mounted on the outer end 456 of L-shaped lever member458 which has its other end 460 pivotally connected to bracket 462secured to the upper end 464 of rod 440. Cylinder LJ has its lower end466 pivotally connected to bracket 468 secured to and extendingoutwardly from rod 44. Piston rod 470 of cylinder L] is pivotallyconnected to member 472 secured to and extending downwardly from levermember 458. Comparison of FIGS. 13 and 14 will now reveal that uponextension of piston rod 470 of cylinder LJ, cuff buck 454 is raised fromits horizontal position, as shown in FIG. 13 to a vertical, pressingposition, as shown in FIG. 14.

Heated cuff pressplate 474, which has a mating, complementaryconfiguration with respect to cufi buck 454, is mounted on upper end 476of lever member 478 which has a leg 480 pivotally connected to bracket462 on the same pivot point 482 as lever member 458. Lever member 478has another leg 482 connected to snubber 484 which is connected bybracket 486 to rod 440.

The normal, open positions of cuff buck 454 and cuff pressplate 474 areas shown in FIG. 13, i.e. with cuff buck 454 in its horizontal positionand cuff pressplate 474 in its vertical position. Cuff pressplate 474 isprovided with a handle 488 by which it may be manually pivoted aboutpivot point 482, as shown by the arrows 490, from its open, verticalposition, as shown in solid lines FIG. 13, to a horizontal position inengagement with cuff buck 454, as shown in the dashed lines 474A. Withcuff pressplate 474 thus lowered to its horizontal position 474A,actuation of cylinder LJ will simultaneously pivotally raise both cuffbuck 454 and cuff pressplate 474 to their vertical, pressing positions,as shown in FIG. 14.

It is desired that cuff buck assemblies 40, 42 in their inactivepositions he pivoted inwardly about the axes of rods 432 towardpressplate assembly 34, and that the cuff buck 454 and cuff pressplate474 be pivotally inclined inwardly toward pressplate assembly 34, asshown by the dashed line 492 (FIG. 11). However, in their pressingpositions, it is desired that cuff buck assemblies 40, 42 be pivotedoutwardly away from pressplate assembly 34 about the axes of rods 432,and that the cuff bucks 454 and cuff pressplates 474 be pivotedoutwardly to generally parallel relationship, as shown by the dashedline 494, thereby to extend the sleeves of a shirt. This compoundpivotal movement of the cuff pressing assemblies is provided by means ofrod 496 having its upper end 498 pivotally connected to lever member 458at point 500, and having its lower end 502 connected by spring 504 tobracket 506 which is secured to a respective rail 52, 54. Inspection ofFIG. 14 will reveal that when piston rod 470 of cylinder L] is extendedthereby to pivot lever member 458 and cuff buck 454 upwardly to thevertical, pressing position, point 500 to which the upper end 498 of rod496 is connected will pivot upwardly from point 500a to point 50%thereby compressing spring 404 and applying force on the upper end ofthe cuff pressing assembly to cause it to pivot outwardly away frompressplate assembly 34 about the axis of rod 432, and also to pivotabout the axis of pivot points 444, 450 from the inclined position 492to the parallel position 494. Retraction of piston rod 470 of cylinderLJ, and return of point 500 at which rod 596 is connected to levermember 458 from point 50% to point 500a (FIG. 14) causes rod 496 topivot the assembly inwardly about the axis of rod 432 toward pressplateassembly 34, and also to pivot about pivot points 444, 450 from theparallel position 494 to the inclined position 492. Cuff pressplate 474is steam heated by means of suitable conduits 508.

Referring particularly to FIG. 15, valve V12 is mounted on bracket 462of the right cuff pressing assembly 42 and is provided with a springactuating element 510 connected to a member 512 pivotally mounted on rod440. Lever member 458 has a member 514 secured thereto which, in thelowered or horizontal position of lever member 458 and cuff buck 454,engages member 512 thereby to actuate valve V12 in one direction. Leg480 of lever member 478 has a member 516 thereon which, when levermember 478 and cuff pressplate 474 are lowered to position 474a, engagesspring actuating element 510, as shown by the dashed line 518, therebyto actuate valve V12 in the opposite direction. The function of valveV12 will be described in connection with FIG. 27.

Cuff bucks 454 have triangular baffle members 520 extending therefromwhich enter the placket of the sleeve when the opened cuff is placedupon surface 522 of cuff buck 454, thereby partially to close theplacket opening in order to restrict the outward flow of air therefromso that the air entering the sleeves through openings 218, 220 in bag212 will tend to inflate the sleeves.

Actuating foot pedals A, B and C are provided extending outwardlythrough base rail 48. A timing pneumatic cylinder L is positionedbetween rails 48, 56. Valves V8 and V9 are actuated, one in onedirection and the other in the opposite direction by a lever member 524(FIG. Actuation of pedal B will actuate lever member 524 in onedirection thereby to actuate valves V8 and V9. Retraction of piston rod526 of timing cylinder L under the influence of spring 528 from itsextended position as shown in FIG. 10, will cause projection 530 toengage abutment 532 on lever member 524 thereby to actuate valve V8 andV9 in the opposite direction. Valves V8 and V9 are also actuated in theopposite direction by actuation of pedal A. The function of valves V8and V9 will be described in conjunction with FIG. 27.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 17, valves V10 and VII are mounted ona bracket 534 secured to rails 48, 56. Valves V10 and V11 are actuated,one in one direction and the other in the other, by a lever member 536pivotally mounted on bracket 534, as at 538. An extension lever member540 is pivotally connected to lever member 536, as at 542. A pivotedknuckle member 544 is connected between lever members 536 and 540.Knuckle member 544 prevents downward pivoting of lever member 540 withrespect to lever member 536, but permits upward pivoting of lever member540 with respect to lever member 536. Rod 546 extends downwardly fromcollar buck 388 and has a roller 548 at the lower end thereof. Whencollar buck 388 is moved downwardly to its closed position, asabove-described, roller 548 engages lever member 540, thus pivotinglever member 536 in the direction shown by the arrow 550, therebyactuating valve V10 in one direction and valve V11 in the other. Pedal Cis connected to lever member 536 by pivoted lever member 552. Actuationof pedal C causes lever member 536 to pivot in the opposite direction,as shown by the arrow 554, breaking the knuckle 544, and actuatingvalves V10 and V11 in the opposite direction. Spring 556 normally biaseslever member 536 in the direction shown in the arrow 554. Spring 558normally biases lever member 554 to maintain knuckle member 544 in itsstraight position. The function of valves V10 and V11 will be describedin connection with FIG. 27.

Referring now to FIG. 27, a source 560 of air under pressure is coupledby conventional regulator 562 to line 564 to which valves V1, V2, V3,V4, V8, V9, V10 and V13 are coupled. Line 574 couples valve V1 tocylinder RA, and line 576 couples valve V2 to cylinder LA, and line 577couples valve V13 to cylinders RC and LC. Thus, actuation of the rightand left buttons 370, 372 will respectively couple air to actuate theright and left clamping and expander cylinders RA, RC, LA and LC, asabove-described.

Line 578 couples valve V3 to body buck cylinder G, collar buck extendingcylinder H and valve V5. Line 580 couples valve V5 to kickoff cylinder Dand also to an exhaust. Line 582 couples valve V4 to latch extendingcylinder E and to valve V6. Valves V3, V4 and V5 areactuated byguardrail 236. Actuation of guardrail 236 to its raised or actuatedposition 236a (FIG. 5) opens valve V3 and closes valves V4 and V5,thereby to actuate body buck raising cylinder G and to apply air tocollar buck extending cylinder H, and to cut off air from latchextending cylinder E, thereby to retract latch 156.

Line 584 couples valve V8 to timing cylinder L. Line 586 couples valveV9 to two-way valve V12. Line 588 also couples valve V9 to tail clampcylinder 1 and to valve V7. Line 590 couples valve V7 to pressplatecylinder F and to pressure switch 592 which actuates blower 38. Line 594couples valve V12 in one position thereof, to the left and right shortsleeve expander cylinders LB and RB. Line 596 couples V12, in its otherposition, to the left and right cuff buck cylinders LJ and RJ. Actuationof pedal B closes valve V8 and opens valve V9 thereby to terminateapplication of air to timing cylinder L so that its piston rod 526starts to retract under the influence of spring 528, and opens valve V9to apply air to valve V12, to tail clamp cylinder I to actuate to tailclamps 266, 268 and 270 to their clamping positions, and to valve V7.Body buck 36 in its vertical, pressing position opens valve V7 therebyto apply air to pressplate cylinder F to cause the tight pressingengagement between the pressplate 98 and body buck 36. TI-le airpressure in line 590 actuates pressure switch 592 which energizes blower38. Closing of valve V6 by body buck 36in its pressing position preventsexhaust of collar buck extending cylinder E.

When cuff pressplate 474 of the right cuff pressing assembly 42 islowered to the horizontal position in engagement with cuff buck 454 sothat member 516 actuates spring element 510 of valve V12, thusindicating that a long-sleeved shirt is to be pressed, valve V12 isactuated to its opposite position to couple line 596 to line 586 thus toapply air to valve left and right cuff buck cylinders LJ and RJ, thusextending those cylinders simultaneously to raise cuff bucks 454 andcuff pressplates 474 to their pressing positions.

When timing cylinder L times out, or when pedal A is actuated, valve V8is opened and valve V9 closed, thereby again expanding piston rod 526 oftiming cylinder L. Closing of valve V9 removes air from tail clampingcylinder I, thus releasing the tail clamps, and removes air from valveV7, pressplate cylinder F, and pressure switch 592, thereby deenergizingblower 38. Closing of valve V9 also removes air from valve V12 thusremoving air from left and right short sleeve expander cylinders LB andRB, or the left and right cuff cylinders LJ and RJ, as the case may be,causing retraction of those cylinders.

Line 598 couples valve V10 to collar buck pressure cylinder K and tovalve Vll. Actuation of pedal C closes valve V10 and opens valve V11thereby removing air from collar buck pressure cylinder K and permittingto exhaust though valve V11. Retraction of collar buck 388 to its closedposition opens valve V10 and closes valve V11, thus applying air tocollar buck pressure cylinder K.

OPERATION Initially, with air on the machine, valves V1, V2, V3 and V13are closed with cylinders LA, RA, LC, RC, D, G and H retracted. ValvesV9 and V7 are closed with cylinders F, LB, RB, LJ and RJ retracted.Valve 4 is open with cylinder E extended, valve 8 is open with timingcylinder L extended, and valve 10 is open with cylinder K extended.Thus, body buck 36 is in its lower, dressing position, the collarpressing assembly 44 is in its pressing position, the cuff pressingassemblies 40, 42 are in their open positions, the short-sleeveexpanders 222, 224 and side expanders 326, 328 are retracted, the buttonand buttonhole strip clamps 290, 292, 296, 298 are relaxed, and the tailclamps 266, 268, 270 are relaxed.

The body of a shirt is then dressed on body buck 36 with the shirt frontengaging the pad 144 (covered by a bag 212) and the remaining portion ofthe body surrounding bag 212. The button and buttonhole strips are thenarranged under the clamps 290, 292, 296, 298. Buttons 370, 372 are thenactuated, one after the other) thereby first respectively to extendcylinders LA, RA, so as to actuate clamps 290, 292, 296 and 298 to clampthe button and buttonhole strips against the front, pressing surface ofbody buck 36, and then simultaneously to extend cylinders LC and RC toactuate side expanders 326,328.

Guardrail 236 is then actuated to position 236a (FIG. 5) which opensvalve V3 to extend body buck cylinder G thereby to raise body buckassembly 36 to its vertical, pressing position. Valve V3 also appliesair to collar buck extending cylinder H, however collar buck 388 willnot be extended thereby since cylinder K is extended by the still-openvalve V causing lever 408 and roller 414 to apply pressure againstcollar buck 388. Actuation of guardrail 236 also closes valve V4 toremove air from latch cylinder E. As body buck 36 swings into itsvertical, pressing position, valve V6 is opened to exhaust cylinder Ewith internal spring 168 thus retracting latching member 156 so thathook portion 162 engages rod 154 thereby to hold the body buck assembly36 in its pressing position. Raising of body buck assembly 36 to itspressing position also opens valve V7 thereby to permit application ofair to pressplate cylinder F and pressure switch 592. If the shirt to bepressed has long sleeves, the operator now dresses the cuffs on the cuffbucks 454 in their lower, horizontal positions, and then by means ofhandles 488, lowers the cuff pressplates 474 to their lower positions474a (FIG. 13), thereby causing member 516 to actuate valve V12 (FIG. tocouple line 598 and the left and right cuff buck cylinders LJ and R] toline 586.

The operator then kicks pedal B which opens valve V9 supplying airthrough V12 to the cuff buck cylinders LJ, R] which raises the cufibucksand cuff pressplates 454, 474 to their pressing positions (FIG. 14) andcauses the cuff pressing assemblies 40, 42 to pivot away from pressplateassembly 34 about the axes of rods 432, and also to pivot to theirparallel positions, thereby to extend the sleeves of the shirt. Openingof valve V9 by actuation of pedal B also applies air to the tail clampcylinder I to move tail clamps 266, 268 and 270 to their clampingpositions, applies air to the now opened valve V7, to the pressing platecylinder F and to pressure switch 592 thereby actuating blower 38.Closing of valve V8 by actuation of pedal B removes air from the timingcylinder L thereby initiating the timing cycle, timing cylinder Lexhausting through metered orifice 600.

In the event that a short sleeved shirt has been dressed on body buck36, cuff pressplate 474 of the right cuff pressing assembly 42 would nothave been lowered, and thus valve V12 would not have been actuated.Thus, short sleeve expander cylinders LB and RB in line 594 would becoupled by valve V12 to line 586 so that, upon opening of valve V9 byactuation of pedal B, the right and left short sleeve expander cylindersLB and RB will be extended, thereby to extend short sleeve expanders222, 224.

The shirt is now being pressed, the shirt front being pressed betweenthe heated pressplate 98 and padding 144 to top plate 106 of body buck36, heated air being blown by blower 38 into the interior of bag 212thereby to expand and dry the remaining portion of the body of theshirt, and the heated air being blown outwardly through openings 218,220 into the sleeves of the shirt. In the case of a long-sleeved shirt,the cuffs are being pressed by the cuff pressing assemblies 40, 42.

The operator then kicks pedal C which closes valve 10 and opens valve11, thus permitting collar buck pressure cylinder K to retract and toexhaust through valve V11. This releases the pressure applied to collarbuck 388 which is now extended to its open position (FIG. 6) by virtueof the fact that air has been applied to cylinder E by opening of valveV4 in response to actuation of guardrail 236. The operator then dressesthe collar of another shirt on collar buck 388.

When timing cylinder L times out or the release pedal A is kicked, valveA is opened, again to extend timing cylinder L, and valve 9 is closed,thereby removing air from pressplate cylinder F to release the pressingand clamping action between pressplate 98 and body buck 36, frompressure switch 592 thereby to deenergize blower 38, from tail clampcylinder l thereby to release the tail clamps, and from the left andright short sleeve expander cylinders LB and RB, or the left and rightcuff buck cylinders LJ and RJ, whichever the case may be.

The operator then moves guardrail 236 to its deactuated position 236b(FIG. 9) which closes valve V3 thereby to remove air from body buckcylinder G and collar buck extending cylinder H, opens valve V5 topermit exhaust of cylinders G and H and also to apply air to kickoffcylinder D, which simultaneously actuates both valves V1 and V2 toretract the clamp and side expander cylinders LA, LC, RA and RC.Deactuation of guardrail 236 also opens valve V4 to apply air to latchcylinder E which pivots latching member 156 downwardly so that hookportion 162 is disengaged from bar 154 in neck form 146, thus permittingspring to swing body buck assembly 36 downwardly toward its dressingposition. Removal of air from collar buck extending cylinder H and itsexhaust through valve V5 permits spring 418 to retract collar buck 388to its closed position. Upon arrival of collar buck 388 at its closedposition, valve V10 is opened and valve Vll is closed (FIG. 17) thusapplying air to collar buck pressure cylinder K to extend the samethereby causing lever 408 and roller 414 to apply pressure againstcollar buck 388 to force the same into its pressing position, thereby topress the collar thereon.

It will be observed that when the body buck is in its horizontal,dressing position, movement thereto having opened valve V10 to apply airto collar buck pressure cylinder K, kicking pedal C will close valve V10and open valve V11, thereby removing air from collar buck pressurecylinder K and exhausting the air therefrom through valve V11, therebypermitting spring 416 to retract cylinder K and the pivot lever 408 androller 414 out of pressing engagement with collar buck 388, thereby torelease the pressure on the collar buck.

It will be observed that the shirt press of the invention operates on acycle of three shirts. Thus, a first shirt which has had its collarpreviously pressed on the collar press assembly 44 has its front, bodyand cuffs pressed on body buck 36 and cuff press assembly 40, 42; asecond shirt which has had its collar previously pressed is hung on knob600; and a third shirt has its collar dressed on collar buck 388 in itsopen position while body buck 36 is in its pressing position. Uponcompletion of the body and cuff pressing cycle and lowering of body buck36, collar press assembly 44 closes to press the collar of the thirdshirt thereon, the completely pressed and finished first shirt isremoved from body buck 36 and cuff press assemblies 40, 42 and thesecond shirt is removed from knob 600 and dressed on body buck 36 andcuff press assemblies 40, 42. Upon raising of body buck 36 from itsdressing to its pressing position and actuation of pedal C to extendcollar buck 388, the third shirt with its pressed collar is removed fromthe cuff pressing assembly 44 and placed on knob 600, and a fourth shirtthen has its collar dressed on the extended collar buck 388.

It will now be seen that there has been provided a single, integratedpiece of apparatus which will completely press and finish a shirtincluding the collar, front and body, sleeves, and cuffs in the case ofa long-sleeved shirt. Thus, a single operator at a single work stationand using only one piece of apparatus can perform all of the pressingand finishing operations on a shirt whereas three or four separatepieces of apparatus and thus three or four different work stations haveconventionally previously been required for completing pressing andfinishing a shirt.

While there have been described above the principles of this inventionin connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understoodthat this description is made only by way of example and not as alimitation to the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A shirt press comprising: a generally vertically disposed shirt frontpressplate; means for heating said pressplate; a body buck adapted tohave the body of a shirt dressed thereon with the front of said shirtbody engaging a surface of said buck; and means for moving said buckbetween a generally horizontally disposed dressing position and agenerally vertically disposed pressing position with said shirt front inpressing engagement between said pressplate and said buck surface.

2. The shirt press of claim 1 wherein said moving means includes meansfor mounting said buck for pivotal movement about a horizontal axisbetween said positions thereof.

3. The shirt press of claim 1 further comprising means for forcing airinto the portion of said shirt body which is not in engagement with saidbuck surface thereby to inflate and dry said portion.

4. The shirt press of claim 3 further comprising an inflatable bagattached to said buck for confining said air, said bag being adapted tohave said shirt body portion dressed thereon, said forcing meansincluding means for blowing air into said bag thereby to inflate thesame and said body portion thereon.

5. The shirt press of claim 1 further comprising means for clamping thetail of said shirt body on said body buck, and means formoving saidclamping means between an inactive position spaced from said buck whensaid buck is in said dressing position, and an active position with thetail of said shirt body engaged between said clamping means and asurface of said body buck spaced from said first-named surface when saidbuck is in said pressing position.

6. The shirt press of claim 5 wherein said buck moving means includesfirst means for mounting said buck for pivotal movement between saidpositions thereof about a first horizontal axis, and said clamping meansmoving means includes second means for mounting said clamping means onsaid first mounting means for movement with said buck and for pivotalmovement with respect to said buck between said active and inactivepositions about a second horizontal axis parallel with said first axis.

7. The shirt press of claim 6 wherein said buck moving means furtherincludes first power actuator means operatively connected to said buckfor selectively moving the same between said positions thereof, saidclamping means moving means further including second power actuatormeans operatively connected to said clamping means for selectivelymoving the same between said positions thereof; and further comprising agenerally U-shaped actuating lever member and guardrail generallysurrounding said body buck, means for mounting the outer ends of the legportions of said lever member on said first mounting means for movementwith said buck and for pivotal movement with respect to said buck andclamping means between actuated and deactuated positions about an axisparallel with said first axis, means for coupling said lever member tosaid first power actuator means for selectively actuating the same inresponse to pivotal movement of said lever member between said positionsthereof, and manually actuated means coupled to said second poweractuator means for selectively actuating the same.

8. The shirt press of claim 2 wherein said moving means further includespower actuator means operatively connected to said buck for selectivelymoving the same between said positions thereof, and further comprisingan actuating lever member, means for mounting said lever member on saidmounting means for movement with said buck and for pivotal movement withrespect to said buck between actuated and deactuated positions about asecond horizontal axis parallel with said first-named axis, and meansfor coupling said lever member to said power actuator means forselectively actuating the same in response to said pivotal movement ofsaid lever member between said positions thereof.

9. The shirt press of claim 1 further comprising means for moving saidpressplate between an inactive position when said buck is in saiddressing position, and an active position applying pressure against saidbuck surface and said shirt from thereon when said buck is in saidpressing position.

10. The shirt press of claim 9 wherein said pressplate moving meansincludes means for mounting said pressplate for pivotal movement about ahorizontal axis.

11. The shirt press of claim 10 wherein said pressplate has upper andlower ends, said pressplate mounting means pivotally suspending saidpressplate adjacent its said upper end, said pressplate moving meansfurther including power actuator means for applying pressure againstsaid pressplate adjacent said lower end thereby to move the same to saidactive position thereof.

12. The shirt press of claim 11 further comprising a supporting frame,said pressplate mounting means pivotally suspending said pressplate froma first portion of said frame; said body buck having upper and lowerends, said buck moving means including means or mounting said buckadjacent said lower end on a second portion of said frame for pivotalmovement between said positions thereof abouta second axis parallel withsaid first axis.

13. The shirt press of claim 12 further comprising latching means onsaid frame for engaging said body buck adjacent said upper end thereofwhen said body buck is in said pressing position thereby to secure saidupper end of said buck of said frame.

14. The shirt press of claim 13 further comprising means operativelycoupling said power actuator means to said latching means for pullingsaid upper end of said body buck into pressing engagement with saidpressplate adjacent its upper end,

15. The shirt press of claim 1 further comprising means for latchingsaid buck in said pressing position, sand means acting upon saidpressplate and said latching means for moving said pressplate and buckinto pressing engagement when said buck is in said pressing position.

16. The shirt press of claim 1 further comprising first left and rightmeans on said buck for selectively clamping the button and buttonholestrips of said shirt front adjacent the collar thereof to said bucksurface, second left and right means on said buck for selectivelyclamping said strips at a point spaced from said collar to said bucksurface, first power actuator means or selectively actuating both saidleft clamping means, second power actuator means for selectivelyactuating both said right clamping means, left and right expanderelements respectively mounted on said buck for movement between aretracted position substantially within the outline of said buck, and anextended position projecting outwardly on either side of said buckwhereby said elements respectively expand the sides of said shirt bodyupon movement to said extended positions, and third and fourth poweractuator means for actuating said elements, respectively.

17. The shirt press of claim 1 further comprising a pair of elongatedelements, a pair of lever members for respectively mounting saidelements on said buck for pivotal movement between a retracted positionsubstantially within the outline of said buck, and an extended positionprojecting outwardly on either side of said buck whereby said elementsrespectively enter and extend the sleeves of said shirt upon movement tosaid extended position, and power actuator means operatively connectedto said lever members for selectively actuating the same between saidpositions; each of said elements including a first member pivotallyconnected to a respective lever member, and an expansion memberpivotally connected to the respective first member, and means forbiasing said members apart upon movement to said extended positionthereby to expand the sleeve thereon.

18. The shirt press of claim 17 further comprising an inflatable bagattached to said buck, said bag being adapted to have the portion ofsaid shirt which is not in engagement with said buck dressed thereon,means for forcing air into said bag thereby to inflate the same and saidshirt portion thereon to dry said portion, said bag having openingstherein respectively adapted to communicate with the sleeves of saidshirt for admitting air thereto, said elements in said extended positionthereof respectively projecting outwardly through said bag openings.

19. The shirt press of claim 2 further comprising an inflatable bagattached to said buck, said bag being adapted to have the portion ofsaid shirt body which is not in engagement with said buck surfacedressed thereon, ablower, and means for coupling said blower to said bagfor forcing air therein thereby to inflate said bag and said bodyportion thereon to dry the same.

20. The shirt press of claim 19 wherein said coupling means comprises afirst duct on said buck and movable therewith, said first ductcommunicating with said bag, and a second fixed duct communicating withsaid blower, said first and second ducts being spaced apart when saidbuck is in said dressing position, said ducts engaging in communicatingrelationship when said buck is in said pressing position.

21. The shirt press of claim 1 further comprising a frame, means formounting said pressplate on said frame, said moving means includingmeans for mounting said body buck on said frame for pivotal movementabout a horizontal axis between said positions thereof, a heated collarpressplate mounted on said frame, a collar buck adapted to have a shirtcollar placed thereon, said collar pressplate and collar buck havingcomplementary shapes, and second means mounted on said frame forrelatively moving said collar buck between an open position, and apressing position with said collar in pressing engagement between saidcollar pressplate and collar buck.

22. The shirt press ofclaim 21 wherein said collar pressplate and buckare disposed below said body buck.

23. The shirt press of claim 21 wherein said moving means includes firstpower actuator means for moving said collar buck generally verticallywith respect to said collar pressplate between said open position and anintermediate position in alignment with but spaced from said collarpressplate, and second power actuator means for moving said collar buckbetween said intermediate position and said pressing position.

24. The shirt press of claim 1 further comprising a pair of cuffpressing assemblies respectively spaced from the opposite sides of saidshirt front pressplate, each of said assemblies comprising a cuff buckadapted to have a cuff of the sleeve of a shirt on said body buck placedthereon, a heated cuff pressplate, said cuff buck and cuff pressplatehaving complementary shapes, and means for relatively moving said cuffbuck and cuff pressplate between an open position and a pressingposition with said cuffin pressing engagement therebetween.

25. The shirt press of claim 24 further comprising means forrespectively mounting said assemblies for pivotal movement aboutrespective upstanding axes between cuff placing positions with saidassemblies mutually inclined inwardly toward said body pressplate, andpressing positions with said assemblies extending outwardly with respectto said body pressplate.

26. The shirt press of claim 24 wherein each of said cuff buck and cuffpressplate moving means comprises first means for mounting said cuffbuck for pivotal movement between generally horizontal and generallyvertical positions, and second means for mounting said cuff pressplatefor pivotal movement between generally horizontal and generally verticalpositions, said cuff buck and said cuff pressplate being in said openposition when said cuff buck is in said horizontal position and saidcuff pressplate is in said vertical position, said cuff buck and cuffpressplate engaging a said cuff therebetween in said horizontalpositions, said cuff buck and said cuff pressplate being in saidpressing position when both are in said vertical positions.

27. The shirt press of claim 26 wherein each said cuff buck is normallyin said horizontal position, said second mounting means initiallypivotally moving said cuff pressplate from said vertical to saidhorizontal position thereby to engage a cuff on said cuff buck, andfurther comprising power actuator means for simultaneously moving bothsaid cuff buck and cuff pressplate from said horizontal positions tosaid vertical positions.

28. The shirt press of claim 24 further comprising means forrespectively mounting said assemblies for pivotal movement laterallytoward and away from said body pressplate between inner cuff-placingpositions and outer sleeve extending position.

29. The shirt press of claim 24 further comprising first means forrespectively mounting said assemblies for pivotal movement about spacedhorizontal axes laterally toward and away from said body pressplatebetween inner positions adjacent said body pressplate and outerpositions spaced therefrom in which said sleeves are extended, secondmeans for respectively mounting said assemblies for pivotal movementabout spaced upstanding axes between inclined positions with saidassemblies mutually inclined inwardly toward said body pressplate, andparallel positions with said assemblies extending outwardly with respectto said body pressplate in generally parallel relationship, each of saidcuff buck and cuff pressplate moving means comprising third means formounting said cuff buck for pivotal movement between generallyhorizontal and generally vertical positions, fourth means for mountingsaid cufi pressplate for pivotal movement between generally horizontaland generally vertical position, means for manually moving said cuffpressplate between said horizontal and vertical positions, said cuffbuck and said cuff pressplate being in said open position when said cuffpressplate is in said vertical position and said cuff buck is in saidhorizontal position, said cuff buck and said cuff pressplate engaging asaid cuff therebetween in said horizontal positions, said cuff buck andsaid cuff pressplate being in said pressing position when both are insaid vertical positions, power actuator means for simultaneously movingboth of said cuff buck and cufi pressplate from said horizontal to saidvertical positions, and means for moving each of said assemblies fromsaid inner to said outer positions and from said inclined to saidparallel positions in response to movement of the respective cuff buckfrom said horizontal to said vertical position.

30. The shirt press of claim 29 further comprising a frame, fifth meansfor mounting said shirt front pressplate on said frame, said body buckmoving means comprising means for mounting said body buck for pivotalmovement between said positions thereof, about a horizontal axisgenerally nonnal to said spaced horizontal axes, each of said firstmounting means comprising a first member pivotally mounted on saidframe, each of said second mounting means comprising an elongated,upstanding member having lower and upper ends, said lower end beingpivotally mounted on said first member, said third and fourth mountingmeans respectively pivotally mounting the respective cuff buck and cuffpressplate on the upper end of said elongated member.

31. THe shirt press of claim 30 wherein each of said assembly movingmeans comprises a link connecting said cuff buck to said frame, each ofsaid links being of such length that the respective assembly is moved tosaid inner and inclined position when the respective cuff buck is movedto said horizontal position thereof, and to said outer and parallelposition when the respective cuff buck is moved to said verticalposition thereof.

32. The shirt press of claim 24 further comprising a pair of shortsleeve expanding elements, first means for respectively mounting saidelements on said body buck for movement between a retracted position andan extended position projecting outwardly on either side of said buckwhereby said elements respectively enter and extend the sleeves of saidshirt, first power actuator means operatively connected to said elementsfor selectively actuating the same between said positions thereof; eachof said cuff buck and cuff pressplate moving means comprising secondmeans for mounting said cuff buck for pivotal movement between generallyhorizontal and generally vertical positions, and third means formounting said cuff pressplate for pivotal movement between generallyhorizontal and generally vertical positions, said cuff buck and saidcufi pressplate being in said open position when said cuff buck is insaid horizontal position and said cuff pressplate is in said verticalposition, said cuff buck and said cuff pressplate engaging a said cufftherebetween in said horizontal positions, said cuff buck and cuffpressplate being in said pressing position when both are in saidvertical positions, each of said cuff bucks being normally in saidhorizontal position, said third mounting means initially pivotallymoving said cuff pressplate from said vertical to said horizontalposition thereby to engage a cuff on said cuff buck; second poweractuator means for simultaneously moving both said cuff buck and cuffpressplate from said horizontal to said vertical positions; manualactuating means; and means for coupling said manual actuating means tosaid first power actuator means for actuating the same to extend saidexpanding elements when the cuff pressplate of one of said assemblies isin said vertical position, and for coupling said actuating means to saidsecond power actuator means for actuating the same to move therespective cuff buck and pressplate to said vertical positions when saidcuff pressplate is moved to said horizontal position.

1. A shirt press comprising: a generally vertically disposed shirt front pressplate; means for heating said pressplate; a body buck adapted to have the body of a shirt dressed thereon with the front of said shirt body enGaging a surface of said buck; and means for moving said buck between a generally horizontally disposed dressing position and a generally vertically disposed pressing position with said shirt front in pressing engagement between said pressplate and said buck surface.
 2. The shirt press of claim 1 wherein said moving means includes means for mounting said buck for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis between said positions thereof.
 3. The shirt press of claim 1 further comprising means for forcing air into the portion of said shirt body which is not in engagement with said buck surface thereby to inflate and dry said portion.
 4. The shirt press of claim 3 further comprising an inflatable bag attached to said buck for confining said air, said bag being adapted to have said shirt body portion dressed thereon, said forcing means including means for blowing air into said bag thereby to inflate the same and said body portion thereon.
 5. The shirt press of claim 1 further comprising means for clamping the tail of said shirt body on said body buck, and means for moving said clamping means between an inactive position spaced from said buck when said buck is in said dressing position, and an active position with the tail of said shirt body engaged between said clamping means and a surface of said body buck spaced from said first-named surface when said buck is in said pressing position.
 6. The shirt press of claim 5 wherein said buck moving means includes first means for mounting said buck for pivotal movement between said positions thereof about a first horizontal axis, and said clamping means moving means includes second means for mounting said clamping means on said first mounting means for movement with said buck and for pivotal movement with respect to said buck between said active and inactive positions about a second horizontal axis parallel with said first axis.
 7. The shirt press of claim 6 wherein said buck moving means further includes first power actuator means operatively connected to said buck for selectively moving the same between said positions thereof, said clamping means moving means further including second power actuator means operatively connected to said clamping means for selectively moving the same between said positions thereof; and further comprising a generally U-shaped actuating lever member and guardrail generally surrounding said body buck, means for mounting the outer ends of the leg portions of said lever member on said first mounting means for movement with said buck and for pivotal movement with respect to said buck and clamping means between actuated and deactuated positions about an axis parallel with said first axis, means for coupling said lever member to said first power actuator means for selectively actuating the same in response to pivotal movement of said lever member between said positions thereof, and manually actuated means coupled to said second power actuator means for selectively actuating the same.
 8. The shirt press of claim 2 wherein said moving means further includes power actuator means operatively connected to said buck for selectively moving the same between said positions thereof, and further comprising an actuating lever member, means for mounting said lever member on said mounting means for movement with said buck and for pivotal movement with respect to said buck between actuated and deactuated positions about a second horizontal axis parallel with said first-named axis, and means for coupling said lever member to said power actuator means for selectively actuating the same in response to said pivotal movement of said lever member between said positions thereof.
 9. The shirt press of claim 1 further comprising means for moving said pressplate between an inactive position when said buck is in said dressing position, and an active position applying pressure against said buck surface and said shirt front thereon when said buck is in said pressing position.
 10. The shirt press of claim 9 wherein said prEssplate moving means includes means for mounting said pressplate for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis.
 11. The shirt press of claim 10 wherein said pressplate has upper and lower ends, said pressplate mounting means pivotally suspending said pressplate adjacent its said upper end, said pressplate moving means further including power actuator means for applying pressure against said pressplate adjacent said lower end thereby to move the same to said active position thereof.
 12. The shirt press of claim 11 further comprising a supporting frame, said pressplate mounting means pivotally suspending said pressplate from a first portion of said frame; said body buck having upper and lower ends, said buck moving means including means or mounting said buck adjacent said lower end on a second portion of said frame for pivotal movement between said positions thereof about a second axis parallel with said first axis.
 13. The shirt press of claim 12 further comprising latching means on said frame for engaging said body buck adjacent said upper end thereof when said body buck is in said pressing position thereby to secure said upper end of said buck of said frame.
 14. The shirt press of claim 13 further comprising means operatively coupling said power actuator means to said latching means for pulling said upper end of said body buck into pressing engagement with said pressplate adjacent its upper end.
 15. The shirt press of claim 1 further comprising means for latching said buck in said pressing position, sand means acting upon said pressplate and said latching means for moving said pressplate and buck into pressing engagement when said buck is in said pressing position.
 16. The shirt press of claim 1 further comprising first left and right means on said buck for selectively clamping the button and buttonhole strips of said shirt front adjacent the collar thereof to said buck surface, second left and right means on said buck for selectively clamping said strips at a point spaced from said collar to said buck surface, first power actuator means or selectively actuating both said left clamping means, second power actuator means for selectively actuating both said right clamping means, left and right expander elements respectively mounted on said buck for movement between a retracted position substantially within the outline of said buck, and an extended position projecting outwardly on either side of said buck whereby said elements respectively expand the sides of said shirt body upon movement to said extended positions, and third and fourth power actuator means for actuating said elements, respectively.
 17. The shirt press of claim 1 further comprising a pair of elongated elements, a pair of lever members for respectively mounting said elements on said buck for pivotal movement between a retracted position substantially within the outline of said buck, and an extended position projecting outwardly on either side of said buck whereby said elements respectively enter and extend the sleeves of said shirt upon movement to said extended position, and power actuator means operatively connected to said lever members for selectively actuating the same between said positions; each of said elements including a first member pivotally connected to a respective lever member, and an expansion member pivotally connected to the respective first member, and means for biasing said members apart upon movement to said extended position thereby to expand the sleeve thereon.
 18. The shirt press of claim 17 further comprising an inflatable bag attached to said buck, said bag being adapted to have the portion of said shirt which is not in engagement with said buck dressed thereon, means for forcing air into said bag thereby to inflate the same and said shirt portion thereon to dry said portion, said bag having openings therein respectively adapted to communicate with the sleeves of said shirt for admitting air thereto, said elements in said extended position thereof respectively projectiNg outwardly through said bag openings.
 19. The shirt press of claim 2 further comprising an inflatable bag attached to said buck, said bag being adapted to have the portion of said shirt body which is not in engagement with said buck surface dressed thereon, a blower, and means for coupling said blower to said bag for forcing air therein thereby to inflate said bag and said body portion thereon to dry the same.
 20. The shirt press of claim 19 wherein said coupling means comprises a first duct on said buck and movable therewith, said first duct communicating with said bag, and a second fixed duct communicating with said blower, said first and second ducts being spaced apart when said buck is in said dressing position, said ducts engaging in communicating relationship when said buck is in said pressing position.
 21. The shirt press of claim 1 further comprising a frame, means for mounting said pressplate on said frame, said moving means including means for mounting said body buck on said frame for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis between said positions thereof, a heated collar pressplate mounted on said frame, a collar buck adapted to have a shirt collar placed thereon, said collar pressplate and collar buck having complementary shapes, and second means mounted on said frame for relatively moving said collar buck between an open position, and a pressing position with said collar in pressing engagement between said collar pressplate and collar buck.
 22. The shirt press of claim 21 wherein said collar pressplate and buck are disposed below said body buck.
 23. The shirt press of claim 21 wherein said moving means includes first power actuator means for moving said collar buck generally vertically with respect to said collar pressplate between said open position and an intermediate position in alignment with but spaced from said collar pressplate, and second power actuator means for moving said collar buck between said intermediate position and said pressing position.
 24. The shirt press of claim 1 further comprising a pair of cuff pressing assemblies respectively spaced from the opposite sides of said shirt front pressplate, each of said assemblies comprising a cuff buck adapted to have a cuff of the sleeve of a shirt on said body buck placed thereon, a heated cuff pressplate, said cuff buck and cuff pressplate having complementary shapes, and means for relatively moving said cuff buck and cuff pressplate between an open position and a pressing position with said cuff in pressing engagement therebetween.
 25. The shirt press of claim 24 further comprising means for respectively mounting said assemblies for pivotal movement about respective upstanding axes between cuff placing positions with said assemblies mutually inclined inwardly toward said body pressplate, and pressing positions with said assemblies extending outwardly with respect to said body pressplate.
 26. The shirt press of claim 24 wherein each of said cuff buck and cuff pressplate moving means comprises first means for mounting said cuff buck for pivotal movement between generally horizontal and generally vertical positions, and second means for mounting said cuff pressplate for pivotal movement between generally horizontal and generally vertical positions, said cuff buck and said cuff pressplate being in said open position when said cuff buck is in said horizontal position and said cuff pressplate is in said vertical position, said cuff buck and cuff pressplate engaging a said cuff therebetween in said horizontal positions, said cuff buck and said cuff pressplate being in said pressing position when both are in said vertical positions.
 27. The shirt press of claim 26 wherein each said cuff buck is normally in said horizontal position, said second mounting means initially pivotally moving said cuff pressplate from said vertical to said horizontal position thereby to engage a cuff on said cuff buck, and further comprising power actuator means for simultaneously moving both said cuff buck and cuff pressplate from said horizontal positions to said vertical positions.
 28. The shirt press of claim 24 further comprising means for respectively mounting said assemblies for pivotal movement laterally toward and away from said body pressplate between inner cuff-placing positions and outer sleeve extending position.
 29. The shirt press of claim 24 further comprising first means for respectively mounting said assemblies for pivotal movement about spaced horizontal axes laterally toward and away from said body pressplate between inner positions adjacent said body pressplate and outer positions spaced therefrom in which said sleeves are extended, second means for respectively mounting said assemblies for pivotal movement about spaced upstanding axes between inclined positions with said assemblies mutually inclined inwardly toward said body pressplate, and parallel positions with said assemblies extending outwardly with respect to said body pressplate in generally parallel relationship, each of said cuff buck and cuff pressplate moving means comprising third means for mounting said cuff buck for pivotal movement between generally horizontal and generally vertical positions, fourth means for mounting said cuff pressplate for pivotal movement between generally horizontal and generally vertical position, means for manually moving said cuff pressplate between said horizontal and vertical positions, said cuff buck and said cuff pressplate being in said open position when said cuff pressplate is in said vertical position and said cuff buck is in said horizontal position, said cuff buck and said cuff pressplate engaging a said cuff therebetween in said horizontal positions, said cuff buck and said cuff pressplate being in said pressing position when both are in said vertical positions, power actuator means for simultaneously moving both of said cuff buck and cuff pressplate from said horizontal to said vertical positions, and means for moving each of said assemblies from said inner to said outer positions and from said inclined to said parallel positions in response to movement of the respective cuff buck from said horizontal to said vertical position.
 30. The shirt press of claim 29 further comprising a frame, fifth means for mounting said shirt front pressplate on said frame, said body buck moving means comprising means for mounting said body buck for pivotal movement between said positions thereof, about a horizontal axis generally normal to said spaced horizontal axes, each of said first mounting means comprising a first member pivotally mounted on said frame, each of said second mounting means comprising an elongated, upstanding member having lower and upper ends, said lower end being pivotally mounted on said first member, said third and fourth mounting means respectively pivotally mounting the respective cuff buck and cuff pressplate on the upper end of said elongated member.
 31. THe shirt press of claim 30 wherein each of said assembly moving means comprises a link connecting said cuff buck to said frame, each of said links being of such length that the respective assembly is moved to said inner and inclined position when the respective cuff buck is moved to said horizontal position thereof, and to said outer and parallel position when the respective cuff buck is moved to said vertical position thereof.
 32. The shirt press of claim 24 further comprising a pair of short sleeve expanding elements, first means for respectively mounting said elements on said body buck for movement between a retracted position and an extended position projecting outwardly on either side of said buck whereby said elements respectively enter and extend the sleeves of said shirt, first power actuator means operatively connected to said elements for selectively actuating the same between said positions thereof; each of said cuff buck and cuff pressplate moving means comprising second means for mounting said cuff buck for pivotal movement between generally horizontal and generally vertical poSitions, and third means for mounting said cuff pressplate for pivotal movement between generally horizontal and generally vertical positions, said cuff buck and said cuff pressplate being in said open position when said cuff buck is in said horizontal position and said cuff pressplate is in said vertical position, said cuff buck and said cuff pressplate engaging a said cuff therebetween in said horizontal positions, said cuff buck and cuff pressplate being in said pressing position when both are in said vertical positions, each of said cuff bucks being normally in said horizontal position, said third mounting means initially pivotally moving said cuff pressplate from said vertical to said horizontal position thereby to engage a cuff on said cuff buck; second power actuator means for simultaneously moving both said cuff buck and cuff pressplate from said horizontal to said vertical positions; manual actuating means; and means for coupling said manual actuating means to said first power actuator means for actuating the same to extend said expanding elements when the cuff pressplate of one of said assemblies is in said vertical position, and for coupling said actuating means to said second power actuator means for actuating the same to move the respective cuff buck and pressplate to said vertical positions when said cuff pressplate is moved to said horizontal position.
 33. The shirt press of claim 32 wherein said coupling means comprises a two-way valve actuated by said cuff pressplate in response to movement between its said vertical and horizontal positions.
 34. The shirt press of claim 32 further comprising a blower for forcing air into the portion of said shirt body which is not in engagement with said buck surface thereby to inflate and dry said portion, said body buck moving means including third power actuator means for relatively moving said body buck between said positions thereof, means including fourth power actuator means for urging said pressplate and body buck into pressing engagement, second manual actuating means for actuating said third power means to move said body buck to said pressing position, means for initiating operation of said blower and for actuating said fourth power actuator means in response to said first actuating means and said body buck being in said pressing position; and means for terminating operation of said blower and for deactuating said fourth power actuator means.
 35. The shirt press of claim 34 wherein said terminating means includes timing means for automatically terminating operation of said blower and for deactuating said fourth power actuator means after a predetermined time delay, and third manually actuated means for selectively terminating operation of said blower and for deactuating said fourth power actuator means.
 36. The shirt press of claim 21 wherein said body buck moving means includes first power actuator means for selectively moving said body buck between said positions thereof, said second moving means including second power actuator means for selectively moving said collar buck between said open and pressing positions, and manually actuated means coupled to said first and second actuator means for selectively actuating the same thereby to move said body buck to said pressing position and saId collar buck to said open position, and to move said body buck to said dressing position and said collar buck to said pressing position.
 37. The shirt press of claim 36 wherein said collar buck and pressplate are disposed below said body buck, said second power actuator means moving said collar buck generally vertically with respect to said collar pressplate between said open position and an intermediate position in alignment with but spaced from said collar pressplate, said second moving means further including third power actuator means for relating moving said collar buck between said intermediate position and said pressing position; second manually actuated means for actuating said third power actuator means therebY to move said collar buck from said pressing position to said intermediate position whereby said second power actuator means moves said collar buck to said open position when said first-named manually actuated means has been actuated to move said body buck to said pressing position, said body buck and collar buck simultaneously moving to said dressing and intermediate positions, respectively, in response to actuation of said first manually actuated means; and further comprising means for actuating said third power actuator means to move said collar buck from said intermediate to said pressing position in response to movement of said collar buck from said open position to said intermediate position.
 38. The shirt press of claim 16 wherein said body buck moving means includes fifth power actuator means for selectively moving said body buck between said positions thereof, and further comprising first manually actuated means for selectively actuating said fifth power actuator means, second manually actuated means for selectively actuating said first clamping means thereby to clamp the left one of said strips, third manually actuated means for selectively actuating said second clamping means thereby to clamp the right one of said strips, means for simultaneously actuating both of said third and fourth power actuator means thereby to extend both of said elements in response to actuation of both said second and third manually actuated means, and means responsive to actuation of said first manually actuated means to move said body buck from said pressing position to said dressing position for simultaneously deactuating said first through fourth power actuator means thereby to release said clamping means and retract said elements.
 39. The method of finishing a shirt comprising the steps of dressing the body of a shirt on a horizontally disposed buck, raising said buck with said shirt thereon to a vertical position, and finishing said shirt on said buck in said vertical position, said finishing step including pressing the front of said shirt body, and air drying the remainder of the body of said shirt.
 40. The method of claim 39 wherein said air-drying step includes forcing air into said remainder of said body thereby to inflate the same.
 41. The method of claim 40 wherein said dressing step includes dressing said remainder of said body over an inflatable bag, said pressing step including pressing said buck with said shirt front thereon into engagement with a heated pressplate, said air forcing step including forcing heated air into said bag thereby to inflate the same and said remainder of said body thereon. 